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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities applied a standard methodology across all 50 states to compile its report. One of the report authors, Phil Oliff says they looked at each states’ “major education funding sources” and emergency federal spending — think stimulus dollars — over the last five budget cycles, beginning in 2008.

In Idaho, Oliff says data came directly from the annual Legislative Budget Book. To calculate how much Idaho spends per-student, CBPP used enrollment numbers from the federal Department of Education. Those are tallied on the first day of school.

“Whether it’s 12 percent or 19 percent, it’s still a pretty big decline,” says Ferguson. He says it boils down to a different way of counting the same thing. Ferguson says adjusting for inflation makes more sense statistically, because it takes into account the change that happens over time in price level.

Center on Budget Policy and Priorities

Click on the image to enlarge.

And when inflation is applied, the percentage decline in education spending will go up.

Ferguson says CBPP’s method can be useful because it looks at all states over time, rather than the year-to-year accounting that happens at the individual state level. “It’s a consistent comparison across geography,” Ferguson says, “and it’s important to see how Idaho fits in.”

Still, Idaho Department of Education spokesperson McGrath says, “I just don’t think it’s an accurate portrayal of school finance or the money we’ve distributed to public schools, whether that’s in a single year or since 2008.”

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rarelypost

Still, Idaho Department of Education spokesperson McGrath says, “I just
don’t think it’s an accurate portrayal of school finance or the money
we’ve distributed to public schools, whether that’s in a single year or
since 2008.”

LOL…why Melissa…because you say so??

Idaho, in the house.

Yes, because she says so.

Why? Because, shutup! That’s why.

Just kidding, I hate these guys.

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StateImpact Idaho was a reporting project of Boise State Public Radio and NPR focused on explaining how economic issues affect you. For continued coverage of Idaho’s economy, tune into KBSX 91.5 or visit Boise State Public Radio's website.